tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65015380381595245962018-11-19T02:32:14.831-08:00 Our Game Closet Board Game Banter and ReviewsAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-77732141508043136852018-09-14T10:55:00.003-07:002018-09-14T10:55:47.076-07:00Can you Think Fast? 5 Second Rule Might Be For You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4w3HVcxdkUc/W5vGEqZdMqI/AAAAAAAACLM/Ml0kDYE6k7gZPB5JIaPHBqR35-dm05s5gCLcBGAs/s1600/5%2Bsecond%2Brule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="218" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4w3HVcxdkUc/W5vGEqZdMqI/AAAAAAAACLM/Ml0kDYE6k7gZPB5JIaPHBqR35-dm05s5gCLcBGAs/s1600/5%2Bsecond%2Brule.jpg" /></a></div><br />I'll be honest: <i>5 Second Rule</i> is not my favorite. It is, however, a favorite with some of our crew, especially the next generation, and so I'm giving you a heads-up. If you're looking for a great group game, this could be it.<br /><br />Here's my problem: to be good at <i>5 Second Rule</i> you need to think fast, and I don't do that. Never have. I'm a ponderer, but there's no time for that in this game. You've got five seconds to name three things on the given topic, or you're done. The card and the timer move to the next player, around the circle, until someone succeeds. That person gets to keep the card, and play continues. At the end&nbsp;of three rounds, the person with the most cards wins.<br /><br />It's simple, and that's one thing that makes for a great group game. Another--anyone can join in. We've had kids as young as nine playing alongside grandparents in their eighties. Also, it's funny. You never know what the mouth will blurt out when the brain is still grinding its wheels. And the timer makes a weird, dying-duck noise that always gets laughs. Lastly, it can be surprising--like the time this non-gambler shocked everyone by spouting off three Poker hands before even taking a breath.<br /><br />Like I said, surprising, and, yes, fun. It might not be my favorite, but it could be yours.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b># Players . . . 3 or more</b><br /><b>Ages 10 and up (so says the box)</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 20-30 minutes</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 seconds</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Luck&nbsp; vs Strategy (It's more about what you know and how fast you can get it out)</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b><br /><b><br /></b><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html" style="color: #3254bb;">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div><br /><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-26973877452691439592018-03-26T16:22:00.000-07:002018-03-27T16:26:03.077-07:00No Bull--Istanbul is a Great Game<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-PmUG8HwsE/WrVJt5aB_5I/AAAAAAAACGw/Jw1kegq6IRsaMhO-NO8he75sEMz8NTVbgCLcBGAs/s1600/Istanbul.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="205" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-PmUG8HwsE/WrVJt5aB_5I/AAAAAAAACGw/Jw1kegq6IRsaMhO-NO8he75sEMz8NTVbgCLcBGAs/s1600/Istanbul.webp" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A good <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2013/03/never-tried-euro-style-game-before.html">Euro-game</a> can take you places, and Istanbul is a good Euro game. As you play, it’s easy to imagine yourself a wealthy merchant bustling through the crowded bazaar of Istanbul. You have assistants who follow in your wake, and you leave them behind to finish up your purchases. Your assistants are so invaluable to you that you can’t really do a thing without them. And so, with no cell phones, it’s often necessary to meet at the village fountain to regroup.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0pUkcy3AQo/WrVYgbs-SwI/AAAAAAAACHA/hGzReoW-80cApZrx3m5UU0qLJK4gCckRwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0pUkcy3AQo/WrVYgbs-SwI/AAAAAAAACHA/hGzReoW-80cApZrx3m5UU0qLJK4gCckRwCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_4859.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8r3kbjwtto/WrVYgiuh8mI/AAAAAAAACHI/QJD8Tif1Aj4Ok1wlScwOdk5_4Zje65z7QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8r3kbjwtto/WrVYgiuh8mI/AAAAAAAACHI/QJD8Tif1Aj4Ok1wlScwOdk5_4Zje65z7QCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_4861.JPG" width="150" /></a><br /><br />Here you are with your assistants.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">And here, at the fountain, regrouped&nbsp;and</div><div style="text-align: right;">&nbsp;ready to roll.&nbsp;</div><br /><br /><br /><br />Your goal is to acquire more stuff, rubies especially, but there are other merchants there, pursuing those same ends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Y</span>ou'll have to hurry to get the best deals before your competitors snatch them up.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHV6MPOww9k/WrVYhu2YwAI/AAAAAAAACHo/-OxEo4GRmx8MUI-iuuwD1hMquSuGYBV-wCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHV6MPOww9k/WrVYhu2YwAI/AAAAAAAACHo/-OxEo4GRmx8MUI-iuuwD1hMquSuGYBV-wCEwYBhgL/s200/IMG_4864.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Your cart will be useful in your quest. With it, you keep track of your goods and the rubies you've bought. And, it's expandable. You can pay the wainwright&nbsp;to make it even bigger.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />The cart is one of the more clever ways we've seen to track resources in a game. And it's just one of several cool components in Istanbul. All of these cool components add to the immersive feel of the game, as does the lushly illustrated board.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g92uhRUcAo8/WrVbt9AV1gI/AAAAAAAACHw/5FfkZnK4jQASS8WLE_yXoiYUdgw7EnjbACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4862%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g92uhRUcAo8/WrVbt9AV1gI/AAAAAAAACHw/5FfkZnK4jQASS8WLE_yXoiYUdgw7EnjbACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_4862%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The board is made up of sturdy tiles that can be moved around to create&nbsp;various different layouts,&nbsp;a nice feature that adds to replayability. There's also a 2-4 player variant of the game, which increases replayability as well.<br /><br />With all of these good things going for it, Istanbul can't help but be a pleasure to play. Even one of our next generation likes it, and she's not a game-lover.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />If there's any caveat, it's that you'll need some extra time for setup. But even that is forgivable. It's a bazaar, after all, and bazaars should be a bit of a chore to&nbsp;put up. Even in that way, this game is immersive.<br /><br />I’d like to go to the real city, someday, and visit a bazaar there. But I doubt I'd still find carts in use and rubies for sale. I’ll have to settle for this game, then. It’s almost as good as a plane ticket there, with the added bonus of a trip back in time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><br /><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b># Players . . . 2-5</b><br /><b>Ages 14 and up (so says the box. I'd say 12, maybe lower depending on the kid)</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . .40-50 minutes</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 minutes</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Luck . . . . . . . . ..8 . Strategy</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html" style="color: #3254bb; text-decoration-line: none;">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div></div><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-81755470581626564002016-03-14T12:35:00.000-07:002016-03-14T12:35:26.433-07:00Sushi Go!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><h3><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2HXCwcBebU/VuY1OX2kVFI/AAAAAAAAB3w/yxNmB3P_ZCQ-ofWFLW1oAHOYVGXek4Pvg/s1600/sushigo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2HXCwcBebU/VuY1OX2kVFI/AAAAAAAAB3w/yxNmB3P_ZCQ-ofWFLW1oAHOYVGXek4Pvg/s200/sushigo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div align="center"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 16pt;">Guest post by Melodie L.&nbsp;</span></h4></div></span></h3></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16pt;">Sushi Go! is a fun, fast card game that is great for the whole family.&nbsp; Younger kids can do just as well as the more mature players.&nbsp; Each player is dealt 8 cards.&nbsp; The players simultaneously choose a card to play down in front of them.&nbsp; All players pass their remaining cards to the player on their left.&nbsp; All players then look at their new cards, choose one to play down then pass their cards again.&nbsp; This continues until all players have only one card passed to them, that card may or may not help them in the end.&nbsp; Points are scored by the combination of the cards each player has in front of them.&nbsp; On each card is listed the combination needed to receive points.&nbsp; Some cards need to be paired, some need three.&nbsp; Some cards can be played down by themselves but are worth more points if played in conjunction with a "wasabi" card.&nbsp; This game is played in three rounds.&nbsp; Points are tallied and written down at the end of each round.&nbsp; Only "pudding" cards can be kept from round to round and for sure you want to have some "pudding" at the end of the game.&nbsp; This has been a surprisingly fun game for our family.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 2-5</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 15 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . .4 . . . . &nbsp;. . . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</b></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br /><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><div style="line-height: normal;"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div><div><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal;"></div></div></div></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-59369468874616861782015-12-23T10:12:00.000-08:002018-09-11T06:28:45.603-07:00China: Grab it if you can Find it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v8pwRRkx5yU/Vnq67227SiI/AAAAAAAAB3M/4f6eCk-lR-s/s1600/china.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v8pwRRkx5yU/Vnq67227SiI/AAAAAAAAB3M/4f6eCk-lR-s/s320/china.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;China has gone out of print. For that reason, I hesitated to write about it, but I learned a few things from it. Maybe you will, too.<br /><br />The first lesson is this: don't judge a game until you've played it.<br /><br />I got China on a whim, a bargain too good to pass up. But when I received it and skimmed through the blurb on the box, I thought, <i>meh, not my idea of a good time. </i>The weirdly written text spoke of domination and territory take over and sounded much too confrontational for my taste (and too much like Risk). So I shoved it into the closet and it stayed there, unplayed, for six months. Finally, we broke it out, figured it out, and found it surprisingly entertaining. It's more strategic than in-your-face and the drawing of cards adds a fun luck factor, too. At 45 minutes, it's a fast, filler game that plays up to five.<br /><br />And that leads to the second lesson: &nbsp;Good things can come in strange packages.<br /><br />The box is slim, as if there's nothing in there, the name unhelpful, the instructions translated by someone with only an academic knowledge of English, and yet, we would recommend this game. The problem now will be finding it. If, by chance, &nbsp;you do, snatch it up.<br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 3-5</b><br /><b>Ages 12 and up (so says the box. I'd say 10)</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . .45 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . . 7. . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 7</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html" style="color: #3254bb; text-decoration: none;">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div><div><br /></div></div></div><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-31093844181252924212015-12-22T11:02:00.000-08:002015-12-22T11:04:27.749-08:00Alhambra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1LJsGzTWm8/VnlpLXfZuhI/AAAAAAAAB28/QeSDWvQVu_Y/s1600/alhambra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1LJsGzTWm8/VnlpLXfZuhI/AAAAAAAAB28/QeSDWvQVu_Y/s200/alhambra.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />I've had my eye on the Alhambra Big box for a while. Here's why: <br /><ul><li>Up to six People can play it.&nbsp;</li><li>The original won the <i>Spiel des Jahres,</i>&nbsp;which is usually the sign of a stellar game.&nbsp;</li><li>Expansions mean that people have clamored for more, and with the Big Box, I could get them all at once.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>Still, I've hesitated to buy it. I wanted to be sure we would like it before making the investment. And also, the box won't fit into our overfull game closet. What to do? Borrow from a friend. Now, thanks to one who has a whole wall of shelves dedicated to games, we've had the chance to take Alhambra for a test run. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>So what is an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra">Alhambra</a>, anyway? Located in Grenada, Spain, it's a palace, fortress, and a small city combined. &nbsp;The game takes you back to the middle ages when Alhambra was under construction and tradesmen came from various locations to help in its construction. All want to be paid in their own currency, of course, so varied currencies are represented by different colored cards. With your money you purchase tiles illustrated as gardens, chambers, towers, and more, and place them in front of you as you build your own Alhambra.<br /><br />If you think of this game as a cross between <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2015/03/trains-in-games-ticket-to-ride-is-not.html">Ticket to Ride</a> and <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2015/12/carcassonne-classic.html">Carcassonne</a>, you'll get a feel for what it's like. There's less interplay than Carcassonne because you're building your own creation and it seemed more luck-based because of the cards. It would be a great family game because it's easy to pick up and it plays six.<br /><br />Now, we just need a bigger closet.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 2-6</b><br /><b>Ages 8 and up</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . .45- 60 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . 5. . . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b><br /><b><br /></b><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html" style="color: #3254bb; text-decoration: none;">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div><div><br /></div></div></div><br /><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-45957386069097581542015-12-21T09:25:00.002-08:002016-03-13T21:01:20.878-07:00Grimoire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yU71fdT-7qA/Vng1-iwWIVI/AAAAAAAAB2s/buB99qzWB-A/s1600/grimoire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yU71fdT-7qA/Vng1-iwWIVI/AAAAAAAAB2s/buB99qzWB-A/s320/grimoire.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><h4><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;">Guest post by Jennie B.&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fascinated with magic spells and special powers my kids enjoy the simple game of Grimoire. A Grimoire is a book of spells and each player is given one at the beginning of the game. There are numbers on the board that allow the game to go up to 15 rounds. You can end the game there and tally points, or you can continue until someone reaches either 10 treasure cards or 10 companion cards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;">To begin the game a certain number of cards are laid out to draw. Each player chooses a spell. Based on the chosen spell, the order of players for that round is determined. This means that in each round the order the players go in could be totally different. If you were to go first you would cast your spell, draw a card, and then decide if there are any cards you want to play. The object of the game is to get the most VP points.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;">To earn VP points there are coins you can collect, cards with people who help you receive VP points, spells that give you VP points, and junk items cards that you can collect to earn more VP points.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;">The most confusing part of this game is determining the order at the beginning of each round. There are spells that reverse the order so that makes it even more unpredictable. After that the game flows easily and it runs quick. It usually takes 30 minutes to complete a game.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our kids enjoy the spell aspect of this game, and I enjoy how short it lasts. We play it occasionally, but it isn't necessarily a game we think about when we have people over to play. When we do pull it out, however, we remember how enjoyable it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b># Players..................2-5<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Game Time..............30 Minutes<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Set up.......................10 Minutes<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Luck......6....Strategy<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Visual Appeal.............8<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Replayability...............8<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-86443875514716744692015-12-18T07:49:00.000-08:002015-12-18T07:49:17.422-08:00Kingdom Builder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQ2hs9Hkgo/VnGDeGCqzVI/AAAAAAAAB2E/YiXiImISkU4/s1600/kingdombuilder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyQ2hs9Hkgo/VnGDeGCqzVI/AAAAAAAAB2E/YiXiImISkU4/s1600/kingdombuilder.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);">Guest post by Janice H.&nbsp;</span></h3><div><span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);">Kingdom Builder is an area control game for 2-4 players. It is the 2012 <i>Spiel des Jahres</i> winner and a favorite in our family!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You start the game picking the variable elements of the game. We choose these items blindly.<br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">• There are connectable board quadrants showing five different terrain types. You pick four boards, decide how to orient them and then connect these at the beginning of the game to make your kingdom. <br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">• Each board contains a different type of Location Tile you will be playing with. These tiles give optional extra actions each turn. The Location Tiles – only two of them each – are put on the Location Hexes, which are scattered across the four board segments. <br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">• You also pick three Kingdom Builder cards, which represent various trades found within a kingdom. These determine how you score a particular game. For instance, if you get Fisherman, every settlement built next to water scores one gold (point) at the end of the game.</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> <br /></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q5Ianbv-Guc/VnF_bahyB3I/AAAAAAAAB14/-6DCWXguHuo/s1600/kingdombuilder1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q5Ianbv-Guc/VnF_bahyB3I/AAAAAAAAB14/-6DCWXguHuo/s320/kingdombuilder1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE;">Then the strategy begins! On your turn, each player draws a card showing what terrain type (for instance, grass) they must build on that turn. They then place three settlements wherever they would like on the board (on grass) in a way that will give them the most points at the end of the game. If you are one of the first two people to build next to a Location Hex, you get the corresponding Location Tile. </span><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><o:p></o:p></div><span style="background-color: #fefefe; white-space: pre-wrap;">But wait! </span><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You must build next to an existing settlement of yours, if at all possible!</i><span style="background-color: #fefefe; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; white-space: pre-wrap;">adds an incredible amount of fun – and angst! – to the game. Once learned, it is a simple and quick game to play. It falls in the category of a Strategic-But-Doesn’t-Take-Forever-To-Play-Game. If you get tired of the base game, there are expansions which add complexity to the scoring of the game, </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; white-space: pre-wrap;">allows a fifth player, and adds additional Location Tiles. The variety of the game – it is different every time! – and the right mix of chance and strategy make this a fun game to play!</span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-5659451395812508892015-12-17T10:39:00.000-08:002015-12-17T10:39:33.845-08:00Manipulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUCDAtS9zrg/VnMArmCF3ZI/AAAAAAAAB2U/358gGM_RjAY/s1600/cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUCDAtS9zrg/VnMArmCF3ZI/AAAAAAAAB2U/358gGM_RjAY/s320/cards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guest Post by Laura Dene</h3><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.46px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our family loves to play Manipulation, especially when we have school-age kids joining in.&nbsp;&nbsp;Manipulation is not a boxed set of cards. You can use Rook cards or regular playing cards or any set of cards that is made up of sets numbered 1-14 and you’ll need at least two decks, more if there are more than 4-5 people. Each person is dealt 13 cards and must get rid of all of them. First person to get rid of all of them wins. To empty your hand, you lay down sets of same numbers or runs. To put a set down, there must be at least 3 in the set or you can add to another person’s set. The manipulation comes when a player sees that cards can be taken from different sets (always leaving at least 3) in order to make a new set that allows the player to put down 1 or more cards. For example, you have a 2 in your hand, but there are no sets of 2 on the table. However, there are two sets of 1-2-3 and sets of 1’s and 3’s. So you break up the 1-2-3 sets by putting the 1’s on the 1’s and the 3’s on the 3’s and combine the remaining 2’s with your 2, thereby putting one card down in a set of three. You continue manipulating sets until you can’t make any more moves. You knock on the table to signal the end of your turn and hope the other players will put something down you can play on. If you can’t play, you draw one. Even young children can usually figure out the sets and manipulate the cards, sometimes with a little help. A game lasts 10-20 minutes, so it goes pretty fast. Fun!</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYNMD6mgYjE/VnMAy7B4uGI/AAAAAAAAB2c/LHhg1JPOiLU/s1600/rook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYNMD6mgYjE/VnMAy7B4uGI/AAAAAAAAB2c/LHhg1JPOiLU/s1600/rook.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-50424174931345068822015-12-16T07:45:00.000-08:002015-12-16T07:50:58.252-08:00Space Cadets: Duel of the Dice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsyrXilZdU0/VnBGW9IVYKI/AAAAAAAAB1o/qbeOXccBFXA/s1600/spacecadets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsyrXilZdU0/VnBGW9IVYKI/AAAAAAAAB1o/qbeOXccBFXA/s1600/spacecadets.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><h3><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12.8pt;">Guest post by Josh&nbsp;</span></h3><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12.8pt;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12.8pt;">Space Cadets: Dice Duel captures the hectic feel of a spaceship battle straight out of a Star Trek episode. Two teams face off on a grid map, complete with obstacles, wormholes, and power up crystals. The teams, composed of anywhere from 2 to five players (although 4 is probably the sweet spot) must fly their ship around the board, and attempt to shoot down their enemy. Sound simple? Not quite.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Space Cadet's method of madness is dice. Each ship is composed of stations, manned by the members of the team. And each station has its own set of dice, rolled as many times as necessary to obtain the results necessary. Still sound simple? All of this is happening at the same time. There are no turns in Space Cadets, simply pandemonium as each team rolls its six sets of dice trying to blow each other out of the sky.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">A captain shouts out the order "load torpedoes and turn around!". The engineer must roll certain numbers to allocate "power" to different stations. Once he has rolled the requisite numbers, the respective stations are allowed to roll their own dice to attain the necessary results. A torpedo is loaded. Helm has rolled the dice signifying an about turn. The ship is moved, and now the enemy is directly in the sites.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Fire torpedo!" yells the captain. And now action stops to determine if the torpedo is a hit. There are numerous factors to be sorted. Enough sensor dice must be rolled to overcome the enemies sensor jam. Shields assigned to the corresponding angle of the torpedo might block it.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's decided. The torpedo was a hit. The enemy loses one energy die (used by the engineer). And immediately, chaos resumes.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The quality of the game components are good. As far as group games go, this one can get particularly raucous, so if that's not your cup of tea, Earl Grey, hot, you may want to skip it. But if you enjoy shouting out orders (or getting orders shouted to you), and if you like a good tactical game, check out Space Cadets: Dice Duel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"># Players . . . 4- 10 (but up to 12 if you have a dedicated captain)</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><br /><b>Ages 12 and up</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 30 minutes</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 minutes</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Luck . . . . . . . . .7 . . Strategy</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 6</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 7</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: -webkit-center;">﻿</b><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">*See "</span><a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html" style="text-align: -webkit-center;">How we Rate</a><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">" for a definition.</span></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-79093006192359701082015-12-15T08:41:00.000-08:002015-12-15T08:41:56.837-08:00Dixit: Beautiful and Creative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-R6UVdu8Hg/VnA_twtsnyI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/LQTa_aZ1hSc/s1600/dixit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-R6UVdu8Hg/VnA_twtsnyI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/LQTa_aZ1hSc/s320/dixit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3>Guest post by Melodie L.&nbsp;</h3>Dixit is a game that involves storytelling, creativity and art. There are 3 main versions of Dixit: Dixit (the original), Odyssey and Journey – each of these games includes a playing board and cards. There are also several expansions that add more beautifully illustrated cards: Daydreams, Memories, Origins and Quest. To play Dixit, each player has seven cards. The active player chooses a card from his/her hand and comes up with a movie line, book quote, name/character, title, etc. that represents the card. The trick is that you want some people to guess your card and some not to guess your card so you have to be a bit evasive. All the other players also play a card that they feel represents that same movie line, book quote, etc. When all cards have been placed down everyone votes on the one they feel best represents the description given by the active player. Points are gained by the active player if he/she gets some of the votes and by the player who receives the most votes. This is a great creative and thoughtful game. (The grown men in our family don’t care much for this game because it does lack that hardcore strategic competition involved in most games we play!)<br /><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 4-12 (Depending on which version of the game you're playing)&nbsp;</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 30-60 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . . 6. . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 10</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 6</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-33420241756531175022015-12-14T10:58:00.000-08:002015-12-14T10:59:09.604-08:00Go Postal with Thurn and Taxis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1VwWn0gnbV4/VmoUZrqqArI/AAAAAAAAB1I/MqbDvT0nI5U/s1600/thurnandtaxis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1VwWn0gnbV4/VmoUZrqqArI/AAAAAAAAB1I/MqbDvT0nI5U/s200/thurnandtaxis.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This game has nothing to do with yellow cars honking their way through the streets of New York. It does have to do with the Thurn and Taxis family, the founders of the first postal services in Germany and Austria. Now, that might not sound like a fun premise for a game, but it is. And if you don't believe me, trust the <i>Spiel des Jahres</i>&nbsp;jury who awarded it the biggest game prize available in 2006.<br /><div><br /><div>It does fly under the radar, though. Maybe because of the unassuming brown box with a busy picture on the front. You wouldn't know from the illustration what the game is about and once you know, you still might not be impressed. But if you like <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2015/03/trains-in-games-ticket-to-ride-is-not.html">Ticket to Ride</a>, you'll like this game. It has the same sort of feel, but instead of establishing train routes, you're building a postal network from city to city.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>There are differences, of course. No cute plastic trains, for one thing, just cards and tiny wooden post offices in various colors. Also you don't have pre-established routes to complete. You're on your own to decide which neighboring cities to connect. Points are awarded for completing longer and longer routes and bonuses are given to the first, second or third player to achieve certain objectives. It's not hard to learn.&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div>It did take us a while to get interested in the brown box, but now that we have it, it comes out of the closet more often than Ticket to Ride. It's faster and I can beat the accountant at it. Something I can't do with the train game. Just for that it deserves a prize.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 2-4</b><br /><b>Ages 10 and up</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 60 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . . .7 . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 7</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div></div><div><br /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-66585101173227756972015-12-11T09:31:00.000-08:002015-12-11T09:31:23.602-08:00Carcassonne: a Classic<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SRWBLt78wM/VmjAsSKpqLI/AAAAAAAABz4/SchiBsFUEL0/s1600/carcpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SRWBLt78wM/VmjAsSKpqLI/AAAAAAAABz4/SchiBsFUEL0/s320/carcpic.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><h3>Guest post by Christi K.&nbsp;</h3></div><div class="MsoNormal">Carcassonne (n.) – a French city built during the Antiquity and the Middle Ages; a really fun game that is fairly easy to play.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is a tile-laying game for 2-8 players. Each player starts out with eight follower pieces. One piece is used for keeping score and the other 7 pieces are used in the game. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psWsJQA7u94/Vmn-qkdobQI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/F7bzd-keFaM/s1600/IMG_2621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psWsJQA7u94/Vmn-qkdobQI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/F7bzd-keFaM/s320/IMG_2621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<b style="text-align: center;">Follower Pieces</b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The tiles are put face-down on the playing table and a starter tile (always the same one) is placed face-up in the middle of the table. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:126pt;margin-top:12.65pt; width:174pt;height:163.4pt;z-index:251662336;visibility:visible; mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0; mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0; mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Alison\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg" o:title="" croptop="16839f" cropbottom="19418f" cropleft="12541f" cropright="11428f"/> <w:wrap type="through"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tH_4Ou8PhO4/Vmn-yzIPT-I/AAAAAAAAB0k/8dgu0YLYdE4/s1600/IMG_2623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tH_4Ou8PhO4/Vmn-yzIPT-I/AAAAAAAAB0k/8dgu0YLYdE4/s320/IMG_2623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><b style="text-align: center;">Starter Piece</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">On each player’s turn, a tile is picked from the draw pile and placed next to a tile that has already been played. The tiles are played one turn at a time. The tricky part is that you might choose a road or part of a city or a monastery and each piece must be placed next to a tile that coordinates. For example, if a player picks a piece with a road on it, they have to line up the road with an existing road. The player claims a road, city, land or monastery by placing one of the follower pieces on the played tile.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:.4pt; width:225pt;height:112.85pt;z-index:251659264;visibility:visible; mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0; mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0; mso-position-horizontal:center;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Alison\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg" o:title="" croptop="7685f" cropbottom="25689f" cropleft="12439f" cropright="5006f"/> <w:wrap type="through"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNmdw_Uykqg/Vmn-z5LdxlI/AAAAAAAAB0s/R2m6pn0pOoU/s1600/IMG_2624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNmdw_Uykqg/Vmn-z5LdxlI/AAAAAAAAB0s/R2m6pn0pOoU/s320/IMG_2624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When a city or road have been completed or a monastery completely surrounded by tiles, the follower piece is removed and points are awarded. Those followers claiming land will get points for completed cities in their field at the end of the game. The player with the most points wins. <o:p></o:p><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iC6921_CSiU/Vmn-u8YjHII/AAAAAAAAB0c/OEhPmQOMpuQ/s1600/IMG_1272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iC6921_CSiU/Vmn-u8YjHII/AAAAAAAAB0c/OEhPmQOMpuQ/s320/IMG_1272.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:432.75pt; height:131.25pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Alison\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg" o:title="" croptop="16788f" cropbottom="22249f"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Examples of city tile, road tile, monastery tile<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqzkeXCLClQ/VmoElQHy7wI/AAAAAAAAB04/T9TvsDqu4ms/s1600/carcpic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqzkeXCLClQ/VmoElQHy7wI/AAAAAAAAB04/T9TvsDqu4ms/s320/carcpic6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Completed City&nbsp;</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">As you might imagine, this game looks different every time it’s played.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The box says for ages 13 and up but our youngest is 7 and he plays with us all the time and actually wins quite often.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">*Our family's variation: To make the game a little easier for our young children, we have each player pick a “bank” piece at the beginning of the game. That way each player has a little flexibility where and what they play.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;MS Mincho&quot;; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">This game has expansion sets as well. If you do not already have this game and plan to buy it, we recommend investing in the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Big Box” which comes with four expansion sets.</span>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-22176139223627365232015-12-10T08:27:00.000-08:002015-12-14T10:52:09.906-08:00Castle Panic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Caj5vl2b_lE/Vmcy7ytpJ_I/AAAAAAAABzQ/BOu7yNjGJ_A/s1600/castlepanic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Caj5vl2b_lE/Vmcy7ytpJ_I/AAAAAAAABzQ/BOu7yNjGJ_A/s1600/castlepanic.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />A sense of impending doom isn't normally a good thing. But in cooperative games it is. Most of the best ones have it, anyway. Think of <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2013/02/for-valentines-ditch-romantic-comedy.html">Pandemic</a>: lose the game and the world is ravaged by disease. Or, <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2012/04/shadows-over-camelot-review-crew-takes.html">Shadows Over Camelot</a>: lose the game and the forces of evil take over the kingdom.<br /><br />If this sense of doom is what cooperative game makers are aiming for, then the developers of Castle Panic got it right. Your castle sits in the middle of the board, surrounded by a forest, and from that forest issues hoards of monsters, trolls and ogres. They attack, your team works to gather enough swordsmen, knights and archers to fight them off. As you do, the monsters advance, the castle walls tumble and the subtitle of the game becomes true: panic.<br /><br />I'm not sure why we game lovers subject ourselves to this kind of stress. Maybe it's the banding together to work for a cause that makes it enjoyable. Or its that when/if we win (not easy to do), we feel like we've accomplished something huge. In any case, Castle Panic is fun, in a nail-biting kind of way. There are expansions, too, for when the original game becomes too easy to beat.<br /><br />The high quality game components add a lot to premise. The castle walls are sturdy cardboard on stands, so they can actually fall. The monsters are illustrated with varying degrees of fierce fighting faces, depending on their strengths. One thing to note: there is an element of competitiveness in this cooperative, as players attempt to become the master slayer. If you don't mind that, and you have some knight-loving, monster fighters in your family, this game would be perfect for you.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 1-6 (4 or more recommended)</b><br /><b>Ages 10 and up (so says the box. Precocious younger ones would be fine)</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 60 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . .5 . . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 7</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-89305251143200433962015-12-09T08:20:00.003-08:002015-12-09T08:20:49.246-08:00You Can't Go Wrong with Hansa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2PI3KXIZ6hM/VmeEn5sQ5cI/AAAAAAAABzg/DR16xkaCURI/s1600/hansa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2PI3KXIZ6hM/VmeEn5sQ5cI/AAAAAAAABzg/DR16xkaCURI/s200/hansa.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />I'm a sucker for a good deal and that's why Hansa ended up in our closet. It was packaged two-for-one with a game called China (review forthcoming) and the price was too low to pass up. So I bought it, thinking it was hard to go wrong, and it's been one of the better deals I've ever snagged, second only to a hail-damaged Geo Prizm we once purchased. <br /><br />I had my doubts to begin with, though. The box is slim and doesn't look like it could hold much at all. The instruction booklet looked to be in German and I thought I'd been duped. But two pages in, English appeared and we were set. <br /><br />The premise is this: you're a merchant traveling the Hanseatic sea, buying goods and setting up booths in various cities so you can sell those goods. There's a cute little wooden boat, shared by all players, which means that where you stop your turn, someone else picks up. This mechanic leads to more interaction that some Euro games and more opportunities for you to foil your neighbor. <br /><br />I love a game that lets me think I'm planning several moves ahead. Of course, things never work out according to my grand design, but that usually means they don't work out for the other guy, either (bwahahaha). Hansa is easy to learn and fast to play, which makes it a good filler between longer games or something to grab when you don't have a lot of time<br /><br />Honestly, I've been surprised by how much we've played and enjoyed this game. We've definitely gotten our money's worth. <br /><br />By the way, there's another game out there called Hansa Teutonica. That one might be fun, too, but don't confuse it with this one.<br /><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 2-4</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 60 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;. &nbsp;8 . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b><br /><b><br /></b><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-21112788782084652772015-12-08T09:14:00.003-08:002015-12-08T09:14:43.909-08:00Killer Bunnies (and the Quest for the Magic Carrot) Card Game<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0nrqzbvPu4/VmcO1FXn4gI/AAAAAAAABzA/fqhuTaVznjE/s1600/killerbunnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0nrqzbvPu4/VmcO1FXn4gI/AAAAAAAABzA/fqhuTaVznjE/s200/killerbunnies.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3>Guest post by Melodie L.&nbsp;</h3>Killer Bunnies is not a game for the faint of heart. You pretty much wreck havoc on all bunnies in the bunny circle which makes for some unhappy people. The starter pack of Killer Bunny cards are blue and yellow. Mastering the rules and game play is essential when playing this set of cards because there are several expansion sets (each a different color) that add new cards, items and chaos to the game. When all is said and done you win the game by having the winning carrot card and an active bunny. There is a great deal of learning when playing this game the first few times but after that it’s addicting.<br /><br />Game turns consist of playing your first “run” card, collecting carrot cards, keeping bunnies active in the bunny circle, playing weapons on other bunnies (trying to kill them off), “feeding” bunnies, choosing cards from your hand to play through your two card “run” and pretty much trying to rid all other players of their bunnies and carrot cards. Our family enjoys playing the starter set of cards and sometimes the next two expansions – after that the expansions make for a very involved game – but, winning the game always remains the same – have the winning carrot card!!! Love this game!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong># Players . . . 2-8</strong><br /><strong>Game time . . . . . . . . 1-3 hours&nbsp;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Luck . . . . . . 6. . . . . . Strategy</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 9</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><div align="center"><strong></strong>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-90214117904439620752015-12-07T10:41:00.002-08:002015-12-07T10:41:47.082-08:00Hand and Foot<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.46px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x3PSr6A79fQ/VmWw2qT8siI/AAAAAAAAByw/asa7pyCz_xU/s1600/handandfoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x3PSr6A79fQ/VmWw2qT8siI/AAAAAAAAByw/asa7pyCz_xU/s320/handandfoot.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.46px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.46px;"><b>Guest post by Laura Dene</b></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 115%;">Our family loves to play the card game Hand and Foot, mostly for adults and older children, either teams or individuals. If you’ve ever played and liked canasta or card games where you make sets or runs of numbers, you’ll like Hand and Foot, as well. Each player chooses 22 cards and divides them into two piles of 11 cards each. One pile goes in the hand and must be played down to get to the pile on the table (the foot), which also must be played down, although you also have to draw every turn. If you empty both hand and foot first, you might win, if you have enough points. Points are awarded for sets and for strategies and for the use of wild cards. A lot depends on the luck of the draw, but there is quite a bit of strategizing. Do you play down your hand immediately, set by set, or do you wait until you can play it down all at once? Do you make sets of wild cards or use them to make sets of numbers? What are the other players doing? Oh, and those “Lady” cards can either wipe out your score or add points depending on what you do with them. All in all, the game makes for a fun evening.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-88026610525375423242015-12-04T09:12:00.000-08:002015-12-04T09:16:02.749-08:00Concept<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDNV7QxnQu0/VmHDYvESVoI/AAAAAAAAByY/niNZUMlR0pI/s1600/concept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDNV7QxnQu0/VmHDYvESVoI/AAAAAAAAByY/niNZUMlR0pI/s200/concept.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Guest post by Jennie B.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">At Christmas time I scour the board games and pick new ones to add to our families' ever growing game closet. Last year I added the game <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IDB6J0S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00IDB6J0S&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=QUXMW2CEQFZDNRQX" rel="nofollow">Concept</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00IDB6J0S" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, but it wasn't until this summer we opened the box to try it out. I am so glad we did, because it was such fun to play.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">The basic premise of concept is to pick a word or phrase and then use icons, printed on the game board, to get the other players to guess the word. There are over 100 icons to choose from. Each icon is associated with a concept. For example the concept for the icon with a blue human figure is male, masculine, or husband. To help learn the concepts for each icon there is a cheat sheet for each player.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">At the start of each game the player who drew the card with the word or phrase has markers they place on all the icons that can help the other players guess the word or phrase. Hilarity ensues when the players guessing can not quite grasp the right concept. Points are awarded based on who first guessed correctly, and the game ends when a certain point value is reached.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">This game says to play it with teams of two, but when we played we preferred having only one person drawing the card and placing the markers on the icons. We also decided not to keep score as it was just as enjoyable to try to guess the right word or phrase.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Since that summer we have pulled the game out several times. It can be played with up to 12 people and is a fairly quick game. I highly recommend this game if you want a quick party game. The only thing I would caution is it does take quite a bit of thinking to try to make sense of the concepts associated with the different icons. Although this caused quite a few laugh out loud moments during our game!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-42891491401145782522015-12-03T08:59:00.000-08:002015-12-03T09:01:52.468-08:00Tenzi Dice Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4imC4XbBa4/VmB0llEZ5LI/AAAAAAAAByI/9B5ONsmqaYU/s1600/tenzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4imC4XbBa4/VmB0llEZ5LI/AAAAAAAAByI/9B5ONsmqaYU/s320/tenzi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><h3><br />Guest Post: by Melodie L.&nbsp;</h3><br />Lucky at dice? Do you have quick reflexes? If you answered yes to both these questions then Tenzi is the game for you. A tenzi is rolling 10 dice of the same number – you want to be the first one to do this. Tenzi dice are sold in different colors and the more colors you have, the more players get to play. Tenzi is brought to the next intense level by playing with Tenzi cards (sold separately from the dice – but the cards are a must). Be the first player to achieve the “requirement” on the card and win the card. (Be cautious that strange noises may come out of your mouth when you lose by mere tenths of seconds!) Be the first player to collect 5, 10, 15 (whatever number of cards you’ve decided on before the start of the game) and you win! This is a great game for youngsters that love games but can’t yet play the harder more strategic games.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . as many as you have dice for</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 15-30 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . .2 . . . . . &nbsp;. . . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 6</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b></b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-78735237520097166402015-12-02T08:22:00.000-08:002015-12-02T18:44:20.995-08:00Time's Up: Adapt it and You'll Love it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaHX6vtQJto/Vl8X-yVaRbI/AAAAAAAABxo/cxJ8QaIiVIs/s1600/timesup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IaHX6vtQJto/Vl8X-yVaRbI/AAAAAAAABxo/cxJ8QaIiVIs/s1600/timesup.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In Time's Up, players have thirty seconds each to get their team to to guess as many words or phrases on cards as they can. Sound familiar? Sound like a bunch of other group games you've played? Maybe so, but there's a twist.<br /><br />In the first round, the clue giver can say just about anything except the actual words on the card and team members can keep guessing until they get it right. In the second round, the same cards are used, but players may give one-word clues only, with one guess allowed. Third round, only actions and sounds are permitted and only one guess. An optional fourth round, has the clue giver freezing into a statue while the team closes their eyes and then opens them to guess.<br /><br />Sounds like lots of fun, doesn't it? That's what we thought when we made the purchase. However, the first time we played, the 40 cards suggested by the directions was <i>waaaay</i> too many, especially considering the range of old and young we had. Three rounds seemed to take forever. The next time we played, we tried 30 cards and enjoyed it much more. Since then, we've adapted it various ways.<br /><br />For instance, it you've got young (or old) players and want an easier game, hand out six or so cards to everyone and have them choose three to put in the pile. That way, some of the more difficult ones get weeded out and you've given everyone a head start.<br /><br />Time's Up has the concept and the components for a great crowd game, just be aware that you might need to change it to suit your crowd.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong># Players . . . &nbsp;4 and up</strong><br /><strong>Game time . . . . . . . . variable</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Luck . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . Strategy</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp;</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Component Quality . .. . . . . 7</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 6</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div></div></div></div><br /><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-34134978550223866342015-12-01T08:07:00.000-08:002015-12-01T08:07:00.806-08:00Splendor: A Pretty, Great Game, Inside and Out <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0o7o3ftbZK4/Vl21jRNiiWI/AAAAAAAABxY/qhuC6DHLLKU/s1600/splendor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0o7o3ftbZK4/Vl21jRNiiWI/AAAAAAAABxY/qhuC6DHLLKU/s320/splendor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If the picture on the box of Splendor doesn't lure you in and make you want to play it, then maybe the thought of using precious gems to buy things will. After all, it's not every day you get to hand over a stack of rubies, sapphires and diamonds to purchase an emerald mine. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, so the gems in splendor aren't real, but the tokens used as gems are some of the heftiest game pieces I've played with. That's the kind of quality you get in this box. It's not just a pretty cover.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But is the game fun? That's the important question.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The short answer is yes, but not in a slap-your-thighs, laugh-out-loud kind of way. If you're looking for a highly interactive, get-to-know-each-other game, this isn't it. This is a thinking, plan ahead, groan-when-your-neighbor-takes-the-thing-you've-been-saving-for kind of game. And to us, that's great fun. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's also easy to learn. On your turn you pick up gems and use them to buy development cards. The cards provide you with more gems and, some of them, with prestige points. The more cards you buy, the more you can buy. And hopefully, you'll receive a visit from a noble before the end, which will add even more prestige to your total. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pretty simple. And fast, too. 30 minutes, the box claims, and I believe it. If you're not playing with indecisive people, that is, which we usually are. But all indecisive people agreed that Splendor lives up to its cover. In this case, you can judge a game by the box. It's pretty splendid.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 1-4</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 30 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;. &nbsp;8 . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b><br /><b><br /></b><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-25544573675449276932015-11-20T09:36:00.000-08:002015-11-20T09:36:28.408-08:00Do You Want to Build a Castle? Four of our crew recently returned from a trip to Germany, which included a visit to this beautiful location, the castle of Neushwanstein.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTyaSrh6x38/Vk0-a11Ag_I/AAAAAAAABwo/-8Lrcbqb0sU/s1600/IMG_4297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTyaSrh6x38/Vk0-a11Ag_I/AAAAAAAABwo/-8Lrcbqb0sU/s320/IMG_4297.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23e7x7rnYzA/Vk0-tLhK6-I/AAAAAAAABww/dnw6pffE-pY/s1600/IMG_4312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23e7x7rnYzA/Vk0-tLhK6-I/AAAAAAAABww/dnw6pffE-pY/s320/IMG_4312.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O5u3O-knz60/Vk0-7C6NNPI/AAAAAAAABw0/kKi0Q7JqWDc/s1600/IMG_4323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O5u3O-knz60/Vk0-7C6NNPI/AAAAAAAABw0/kKi0Q7JqWDc/s320/IMG_4323.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This castle is one of three built by Ludwig, King of Bavaria, who spent all his money and was subsequently declared insane and deposed from the throne. Our tour guide called him merely eccentric.<br /><br />Crazy or quirky, Ludwig was onto something. Building castles is fun, as a certain genius game designer must have realized. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TO8gBzJQr6w/Vk5bNjdqjYI/AAAAAAAABxI/gNIN1INca3U/s1600/castlesludwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TO8gBzJQr6w/Vk5bNjdqjYI/AAAAAAAABxI/gNIN1INca3U/s320/castlesludwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When I saw <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NP7E05G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00NP7E05G&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=7JSLFLODTJPKFWTC" rel="nofollow">Castles of Mad King Ludwig</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00NP7E05G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for sale, I couldn't resist getting it for birthday boy, Jeff. And I'm glad I did. What a fantastic find.<br /><br />The premise of the game is this: players are contractors working for the so-called mad king during his castle building frenzy. Players buy and place tiles shaped like various-sized rooms, hallways and stairs. Players can arrange their castle components however they want as long as doorways line up. If that isn't cool enough, many of the rooms are based on actual ones King Ludwig built, like the underground Venus Grotto in Linderhof castle, where he would listen to Wagner's operas in watery bliss.<br /><br />As is typical, the person with the most points at the end of the game wins. But this game is far from typical. Bonus cards, King's Favors, a turn at being Master Builder and setting the prices, all of this adds variety and makes it so that this game is different every time.<br /><br />One downside is that only four can play. I'd love to see an expansion that would take it to six so our whole crew can join in. It would be like walking the halls of Ludwig's castles together. Almost. And that's a second downside. This game hasn't cured my <i>wanderlust</i>. Instead, it makes me want to go back. <br /><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 1-4</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . . 90 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;. &nbsp;8 . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 9</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div><br /></div></div></div><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-51303384091036785272015-08-17T12:17:00.000-07:002015-08-17T12:17:27.970-07:00Hanabi: a (Cooperative) Game Unlike Any Other<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf9vvqFMstM/Vc5TJIbeSsI/AAAAAAAABqo/nMUMn_ocFqs/s1600/hanabi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf9vvqFMstM/Vc5TJIbeSsI/AAAAAAAABqo/nMUMn_ocFqs/s320/hanabi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem with most cooperative games is that sometimes someone gets bossy. And when that happens, players who don't like to be told what to do get grumpy. If this sounds familiar to you and yours, you might shy away from cooperative games. like we do. (Ask us when we last played <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2012/04/shadows-over-camelot-review-crew-takes.html">Shadows Over Camelot</a>.) But since discovering a beauty of a card game called Hanabi, we shy away no more. Hanabi is not like most cooperative games. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In fact, Hanabi is not like most card games&nbsp;<i>period</i>. Players hold their cards facing out, which means that each player knows what everyone else has but not what's in his or her own hand. Call it a gimmick, maybe, but it's also genius. Since all players are equally blind, no one player has enough information to take control.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The goal of Hanabi is to build a fireworks display by laying down cards in the proper sequence and on the matching color. Since players don't know what's in their hands, they rely on clues from other players and on deductive reasoning to lay down the right card at the right time. &nbsp;It all becomes surprisingly intense.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We like this game a lot. It only plays up to five, which is a drawback for us, but it's portable, quick to play, easy to learn but challenging. You can't go wrong with this one, whether you like cooperatives or not.&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="center"><strong># Players . . . 2-5</strong><br /><strong>Game time . . . . . . . .&nbsp;20-30 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;.7 . . . . Strategy</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Component Quality . .. . . . . 7</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-90591461748878072972015-03-20T14:16:00.002-07:002015-11-19T16:12:09.863-08:00Race for the Galaxy Quest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kx3K6rp457k/VQszqow3wwI/AAAAAAAABmc/dwfLnaXC5qk/s1600/rftg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kx3K6rp457k/VQszqow3wwI/AAAAAAAABmc/dwfLnaXC5qk/s1600/rftg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />We like movies almost as much as we like games. So maybe that's why we keep mixing up this game's name; Quest for the Galaxy. Race to the Quest. Quest for the Galaxy Race. But, whatever the name, it's fun.<br /><br />It took us a while to decide to buy it, even though we'd heard raves at every game store we visited. The usual reason--it only plays four--kept us from investing until we discovered the expansions that take it to five and six. Sold!<br /><br />Think of this game as <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2013/02/puerto-ricojust-pick-it-up.html">Puerto Rico</a> meets <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2013/05/who-needs-couch-when-you-can-play.html">Citadels</a> meets Galaxy Quest. (I had to get it into space somehow). Instead of settling the island of Puerto Rico, you're conquering and colonizing planets. The game is played in phases like Puerto Rico, which brings all the advantages of that game's mechanics: most players are engaged every turn, constant choices means constant strategizing. As in Citadels, most of the play is done with cards, which are placed before you as you build them. The game ends when someone's game tableau (world and development cards) reaches twelve. The expansions add various twists to the basic game.<br /><br />One caveat. Even though this game is similar to others we've played, the learning curve was mountainous. We had to play it three times before we truly grasped it, probably because of the tiny symbols on the cards. Learning their meanings was like mastering a second language (or 3rd or 4th, depending on which crew member we're talking about.) But stick with it. It's worth it. Just forget about getting the name right.<br /><br /><div align="center"><b># Players . . . 2-4</b><br /><b>Game time . . . . . . . .&nbsp;20-30 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp;2 minutes</b></div><div align="center"><b>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;.7 . . . . Strategy</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6</b></div><div align="center"><b>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</b></div><div align="center"><b>Component Quality . .. . . . . 7</b></div><div align="center"><b>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><b>﻿</b>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.<br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-56157511445476549702015-03-06T10:01:00.000-08:002015-03-06T10:19:08.060-08:00Trains in Games: Ticket to Ride is not the Only One That has Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96bbm2dTjpk/VPi638yl-sI/AAAAAAAABlw/t5dSWxlnbVY/s1600/tickettoride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96bbm2dTjpk/VPi638yl-sI/AAAAAAAABlw/t5dSWxlnbVY/s1600/tickettoride.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />How many train games do you own?<br /><br />Take a look online and you'll find a bunch of different ones: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QR6WNY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002QR6WNY&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=QTQPHGMBWJH6722K">Mexican Train</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002QR6WNY" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0975277324/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0975277324&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=NMLW2I5MRTK5OYAC">Ticket To Ride</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0975277324" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002B54VAM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002B54VAM&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=FY7MBDNWWYZTLG2L">Steam</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002B54VAM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H3K0GT0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00H3K0GT0&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=EJ5XJXS5Z7OZLT2B">Russian Railroads</a></i>,&nbsp;<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I61OOU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002I61OOU&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=BBPKIRBZLAS7EGLN">Railways of the World</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002I61OOU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />,&nbsp;</i>and even a Catan Histories variation: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NX73F6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B003NX73F6&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=alis-20&amp;linkId=DEZBYK52WOBOOJU5">Settlers of America Trails to Rails</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=alis-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B003NX73F6" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>. (The last four of which are now pinned to my Games I'd Like board on Pinterest.) Add in all the expansions to these various titles and the conclusion is clear: in games, trains are hot. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfSfDy9WSrY/VPi68aMVQKI/AAAAAAAABl4/3GOkLj9wp8E/s1600/ticketrorideeurope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfSfDy9WSrY/VPi68aMVQKI/AAAAAAAABl4/3GOkLj9wp8E/s1600/ticketrorideeurope.jpg" height="200" width="198" /></a>So what is it about the idea of long chains of coupled cars that lends itself to game creation? If we could figure that out, maybe we could come up with our own money-making version. Or maybe not. We have a history of brilliant ideas but no follow-through.<br /><br />Still, it's worth some study. Here's what we like about one of the two train games in our closet: Ticket to Ride. <br /><br /><b>Going someplace</b>. Obviously. Where there are trains, there will be travel. In Ticket to Ride Europe, players build routes through various cities in early 20th century Europe. Not only do you feel like you're traveling through Europe as you play, you're traveling back in time and seeing the continent as it once was.<br /><b><br /></b><b>Building stuff. </b>In typical Euro style, Ticket to Ride is a game of building with limited resources. The balance between collecting those resources or building before someone else does is tricky, which usually translates into a brain-stretching good time. &nbsp; <br /><br /><b>Racing people</b>. Lots of this happens in Ticket to Ride. You race to complete your routes before the train cars run out. You race to build on key locations before someone else does, or before someone sees where you're going and decides on a little sabotage. Hmm, I wonder who would do that?<br /><br /><b>Learning to maximize return on investment</b>. Okay, maybe the Business Man is the only one of our crew who would say this, but mastering this subtle lesson has helped him whomp on us a number of times. <br /><br />And last but not least,<br /><br /><b>Cool Game Components. </b>Cute little plastic train cars. Need I say more?<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong># Players . . . 2-5</strong><br /><strong>Game time . . . . . . . . 30- 60 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;. &nbsp;8 . . . Strategy</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Component Quality . .. . . . . 8</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 8</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong>﻿</strong>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div><br /><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501538038159524596.post-20822609905628854192015-02-20T12:57:00.000-08:002015-02-20T12:57:51.774-08:00Gather Round the Table for Avalon <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xb5MCAVsUs0/VOZsBxh_2yI/AAAAAAAABk8/txV4FzdxNXY/s1600/avalon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xb5MCAVsUs0/VOZsBxh_2yI/AAAAAAAABk8/txV4FzdxNXY/s1600/avalon.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />If you're a fan of the game The Resistance, you'll like Avalon even better. If you've never played The Resistance, see what you're missing at <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2012/04/resistance-is-intense.html">this post</a>&nbsp;and then&nbsp;try Avalon instead. You'll want to pick it up for your next party. <br /><br />My, my, you say, that's a bold claim. Yes, I say, and here's why I make it.<br /><br />Avalon has all the things we like about The Resistance: it plays up to ten, it's fast, 20-30 minutes, and employs the same intense mix of deductive reasoning, intrigue and deception. However, some things are better. <br /><br />For one, Avalon has Merlin. How can you go wrong with him in a game?&nbsp;Granted, not all of our crew likes the <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2012/04/shadows-over-camelot-review-crew-takes.html">only other Arthurian game</a> we have, but still . . . Merlin. &nbsp;And he isn't just there for looks. He has a special ability. Several of the character cards, do, which adds hugely to the fun of Avalon. <br /><br />The introduction of different character cards does mean there's a script to read.&nbsp;But it's only done at the beginning of the game and doesn't mean that the moderator can't play (as in <a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/2012/07/werewolves-in-dark-our-july-4th.html">Werewolves</a>). <br /><br />Avalon&nbsp;is more interesting to look at, too. The cards beautifully portray the Arthurian time and place and the tokens and game mat seem to be made of sturdier stuff.&nbsp;Still, it is mostly a card game, so if you plan on playing often, you might want to get plastic sleeves for your cards.<br /><br />In fact, just go ahead and get those sleeves because you will play often. Trust me, and I am not saying this as a minion of Mordred. (Or am I?).<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong># Players . . . 5-10</strong><br /><strong>Game time . . . . . . . .&nbsp;20-30 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp;2 minutes</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Luck . . . . . . . &nbsp;.7 . . . . Strategy</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 8</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Component Quality . .. . . . . 7</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong> <br /><div align="center"><strong>﻿</strong>*See "<a href="http://ourgamecloset.blogspot.com/p/how-we-rate.html">How we Rate</a>" for a definition.</div></div><br />Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08840224132627428703noreply@blogger.com0